M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Montana is now well into the spring months. Having grown up in Montana, this is one of the best times of the year to be a resident of the Treasure State. Spring sees the leaves returning to the trees, the grasses are greener than they will be for the remainder of the year, the bears are out of hibernation and the roads into Glacier National Park are about to be plowed open. Spring 2024 sees the association preparing for the annual MIB Convention and Tradeshow. The MIB convention will be held July 17-19 in Missoula. We are excited to return to the Garden City this year, not the least of which is the location of Norman Maclean’s iconic book “A River Runs Through It.” And to quote Mr. Maclean, “I did not know that stories of life are often more like rivers than books.” You will find within the pages of this edition of the magazine all the information you need to attend the 2024 convention — information ranging from how to register, how to sign up for fun activities and how to book a hotel room. The association has once again arranged for a great lineup of informative speakers and timely topics and issues. The convention will kick off with the always fun opening night reception on July 17. The next day will feature speaker Commissioner of Banking Melanie Hall before finishing with rafting, golf activities and the evening vendor reception and dinner. The final day of the convention, July 19, affords the opportunity to hear from several great presenters, including Steve Beck and Joni Hopkins with the Federal Reserve, before concluding with a delicious lunch. We look forward to seeing you in July for big fun under the Big Sky. To register for the convention and/or to find out more information, please visit the MIB webpage located at mibonline.org/convention. Questions related to sponsorships and activities can be directed to Terri James at (406) 449-7444 or assistant@thunderdomelaw.com. Spring 2024 also finds the community banking industry in the midst of a challenging time for the industry. It seems as if every time we open the newspaper, there are troubling stories related to the fallout from the banking spring 2023 banking crises, namely the high-profile failures of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank and First Republic Bank. Mid-sized regional banks still appear to be struggling some 12 months later. Early in February, Moody’s downgraded New York Community Bancorp’s (NYCB) rating to junk status. This came after NYCB detailed major losses tied to commercial real estate loans that went south. Across the country, including here in Montana, CRE is an area that is struggling. This is due to the manner in which the pandemic changed working and living behaviors. BIG FUN UNDER THE BIG SKY BY JAMES E. BROWN, ESQ., EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MIB 6 Community Banker
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